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Thursday's Tech + Tequila explores how the public sector is responding to the ecosystem of connected "things."

Mix equal parts internet of things and federal government and you’ll get a Government of Things; the tagline for this Thursday’s Tech + Tequila.

Conceptually, the internet of things defines the era of increased connectivity among smart devices, sensors, systems and people. Practically, however, that era has already arrived, and by 2020, as many as 50 billion “things” will be connected to the internet.

How is the government responding?

That’ll be one of the core ideas we explore Thursday with our panelists.

Michael Mestrovich, who directs the CIA’s Technical Services Office, will elaborate on challenges and opportunities IoT presents for the intelligence community, with an emphasis on security implications. IoT has significant consequences for the IC, both as a positive (a growing amount of data that could be harnessed and used) and negative (increased security risks).

Finally, Melika Carroll, a policy adviser for Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, will highlight how Congress views IoT. Carroll, also an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, supports Schatz’s work as the ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee’s subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation and the Internet.